November 19, 2012 at 3:49 pm
If you want to get ahead, get a Walrus on the cheap.
With the cessation of hostilities, that’s just what Pete, Gus & Hank (ex-Fleet Air Arm) did. And created the ‘Coffee Run’ from France.
Peter was my Brother-in-Law. Gus went on to found a successful Airline.
Initiative is all you need, Chaps!!
= Tim
(distorted photo)
By: cotteswold - 20th November 2012 at 10:33
I used the term Coffee Run loosely!
= Tim
By: JDH1976 - 20th November 2012 at 10:28
Was it just coffee or other items as well? IIRC coffee was never on the ration, now wether or not you could obtain it is another matter. I am guessing there was no point trying to get tea in France??!!
By: cotteswold - 20th November 2012 at 10:15
So right, David!
And the Walrus was just the job for the job!!
= Tim
By: longshot - 20th November 2012 at 00:52
Well there’s 18 on G-INFO
http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=summary&aircrafttype=walrus&dereg=true
Edit G-AIIB first choice (Navy bods in North Wales)
G-AIWU second choice (Vivian Bellamy’s…surely not!) ????
By: David Burke - 20th November 2012 at 00:22
I am guessing at a time when rationing was still in place – the Walrus was used to bypass those sanctions and possibly commanded a premium price from addicts of the tipple!
By: GrahamSimons - 19th November 2012 at 19:35
Involving different people I am sure, there was also ‘something’ that happened in the 1950s within the FAA where both aircraft and spares were sold off illegally that ended up in a court case. I was told this is the reason why a large number of aircraft record cards are no longer in existence, as they were destroyed to hide the evidence.
It’s something I have never satisfactorily gotten to the bottom of!
By: JDH1976 - 19th November 2012 at 19:21
sounds intriguing, could you expand on wht the “coffee run” was?